Vaporizer



y 1952 c. v. SMITH 2,597,195

' VAPORIZER Filed March 18, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Snventor CHflELEJ l/. gm TH (Ittorneg C. V. SMITH May 20, 1952 VAPORIZER 2 SPEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 18, 1950 N w v N N Z'mventor oHflRLEfi SMITH a v WM attorney Patented May 20, 1952 OFFICE VAPORIZER Charles V. Smith, Seattle, Wash, assignor to Garland D. Runnels, State of New York Application March 18, 1950, Serial No. 150,405

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in deto as Vaporizers, or evaporators. More particularly the present invention has to do with the details of construction and mode of use of a vaporizer that is designed for a controlled production of vapors from a liquid. Specifically stated, the present vaporizer is one designed for the generation and dissipation therefrom, by means of heat, of vapors from a liquid solution that contains germicidal agents, for example, glycol, or to produce from various selected liquids or solutions, vapors of medicinal value, or which counteract undesirable odors.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a vaporizer of the above stated character that is efiective and satisfactory for its intended uses; that is attractive and ornamental in its appearance; that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture; that provides for a controlled variation in its output of vapors; that is spill proof and which comprises a vaporizing unit that may be interchangeably applied to liquid containers of various sizes or designs.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device that, for the vaporizing action utilizes a heating element in the form of an electrical resistor, located within a metallic housing of tubular form, and about which housing a wick which depends into the solution to be vaporized, is applied, and through which tubular housing air may be permitted to flow in regulated amounts as a means of controlling the amount of heat transmitted from the heating element to the housing and in this way to regulate the production of vapors from liquid contained in that portion of the wick that contacts the heated tube.

A further object is to provide a device in which only that liquid that is to be immediately vaporized is heated.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in the details of construction of parts embodied in the vaporizer, and in their relationship and mode of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side view of a vaporizer of a preferred form, and embodying the improvements of the present invention therein.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged, central crosssectional view of the vaporizer taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 3.

1 Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical section of the vaporizer taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2 showing the disposition of the heater.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, taken on line 5-5 in Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vaporizer unit of an alternative or modified form of construction.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the vaporizing unit of the device of Fig. 6.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- First describing the device of Fig. 1: This comprises a suitable container in for a supply of the particular liquid solution or substance that is to be evaporated or vaporized. As here shown, the container is in the form of a conically tapered bottle, having a neck portion H of reduced diameter and exteriorly threaded to receive the mounting base [2 for a vaporizer unit.

The design of the container I0 may be varied. It may be made as desired or required to adapt it for any specific use, or to hold more or less liquid. Furthermore, the container might be made of glass, plastic, metal or any other suitable material. Preferably, it would be of an ornamental character.

The base member [2 of the vaporizing unit, in its present preferred form of design, is circular in plan and has a downwardly dished top surface. It is formed centrally in its bottom side, with an internally threaded socket into which the neck portion ll of container I0 is threaded in a leak tight connection. Formed centrally of the member !2 is a circular hole or opening l5 designed for the passage of a wick as presently explained, whereby liquid from the container is supplied to the vaporizer.

The vaporizer of the unit comprises a vertically disposed tube 16 of aluminum supported coaxially of the base member l2, with its lower end portion downwardly extended into the hole or passage I5 of the base, with clearance thereabout as required for passage of the wick. The tube I6 is closed at its lower end, and it is rigidly supported from the base I2 by means of two small tubes li-l! that extend radially from the tube [6 in opposite directions, at its lower end. The tubes ||ll are open at their outer ends and serve to supply room air to the vertical tube [6. The tubes ll-l'l are contained in the base member 12 as best shown in Fig. 4 and serve to functionally support the vaporizer elements. In a practical size for ordinary home use, the tube l6 would be about two and one-half inches long and one inch in diameter and the tubes I! would be about inch in diameter. These dimensions may be varied to suit various uses.

A wick 20 with tubular upper end portion 20 is fitted to the tube [6 and has its lower end portion longitudinally split or divided along opposite sides for passing at opposite sides of the tubes ll-H and downwardly through the hole 15 into the container to contact with the supply of liquid contained therein for vaporization. The tubular part of the wick fits snugly in the opening l5 through the base and prevents leakage or spill should the device be upset.

At its upper end the tube l6 has a spider 2| fixed therein. Supported by this spider, within and coaxially of the tube, is an electrical resistor 22. This is of tubular coil form and of substantially lesser diameter than the tube It, and it is connected in an electric circuit as indicated in Fig. 1. The resistor 22 is supported by a bolt 24 that is applied coaxially therethrough with its upper end extended centrally through and fixed in the spider. The annular passage between the resistor and tube l6 provides for upfiow of air through the tube as supplied through tubes H-ll. Threaded onto the upper end portion of thebolt 24, is a disk 25 adapted by rotation to be adjusted toward and from the open end of tube 16 as a means of controlling the upfiow of air through tube l6 for regulating its heating and thus. regulating the amount of vapor produced from the liquid in the heated part of the wick.

. .In using this device, assuming it to be constructed. and, assembled as described, first, a quantity of the selected liquid solution is placed in the. container l0. Then the base member [2 of the vaporizing unit is threaded onto the neck of the receptacle. With the understanding that the central passage, or hole I5, is of such diameter as to closely receive the wick and lower end portionof tube l6, it will be apparent that there willv be no leakage or evaporation possible through this passage nor will there be any spill even though the device is upset.

With the vaporizer unit so applied to the con tainer liquid will bedrawn to the upper portion 1 of the wick as fitted about the aluminum tube It. Then when an electric circuit is closed through the heatercoil or resistor 22 it will become heated. Heat from the resistor is transmitted quickly to tube I6, thus to cause the production of vapor from .theliquid contained in that part of the wick that surrounds the tube It. The rate of vaporization may be regulated by controlling the how of air through the tube I 6 as supplied theretoryresistor for the present purpose is a present day 1000. ohm 20 watt radio resistor. .shouldbe connected in an electric circuit, as ordi- This narily available for home lighting, through a variable resistance, as has been illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1. Such resistors are suitable, long wearing and inexpensive.

As an alternative construction, or what may be 7 considereda modification of the device of Fig. 1,

I have provided the vaporizing unit shown in Figs. 6 and .7. In this devicethe container Ilia, for a liquid to be vaporized, may be like the container 10 previously described. Threadedonto its neck portion is a base I232. for mountinga vaporizing,

unit. This base is formed with a dished top surface and it is provided across its center portion with a diametrically directed slot or passage 40 designed for the passage of a wick, as presently explained, whereby liquid from the container is supplied to the vaporizer.

Mounted upon the base member, is a tubular housing 4|, preferably an aluminum tube about one inch in diameter. This tube is secured at its ends in seats 42-42 provided therefore in the top surface of the base member. The tube 4| is parallel with and directly above the slot 40 and looped about the tube is a wick 43, the opposite end. portions of which pass down through the slot 40 and into the liquid contained in the receptacle. v 7

Supported coaxially within the aluminum tube 41 is a heater in the form ofa tubular resistance coil 45. A suitable heater for this form of device also is a present day 1000 ohm 20 watt radio resistor. This coil is about half the diameter of tube 16 and thus provides an annular air space 40 about it as has been shown in Fig. '7 The heater coil is connected in an electric circuit as diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 6. I.

A chimney 41 is applied centrally to tube 4| at its top side and this has a cap 48 adjustably applied to its upper end for the purpose of regulating air fiow through the tube as a means of regulating the heating of tube 4i and rate of production of vapor. g e e The use and advantage of this latter described device is substantially like that first described.

In each of its described forms the vaporizing unit is fitted with a dome or cover member 50 of conical form, adapted to rest at its lower end within a peripheral channel or seat 5| formed in the base members l2 or l2a:. At its top end the cover is formed with a hole 52 for the outflow oi vapors. These covers may be decorated in various ways, for example, as by the applying of fins 53 thereto as shown.

Vaporizers of these kinds are effective andrelatively inexpensive. The rate of vaporization may be regulated and no heat is conducted to the supply of liquid in the container which wo'uld have the effect of causing polymerization or thickening in the case of the use ofglycol.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. A vaporizer comprisinga liquid container having a top opening, a heater base member mounted on the container over said'o pening and formed with a vertical opening therethroughin registration with the container Openinganfopen heater tube disposed vertically above and with its lower end portion centrally located in the opening of said base member with clearance between them, tubular supports for the heater tube extended horizontally into said base member and serving to admit outside air into the said heater tube at its lowerend for upflow through the tube, a wick applied about said heater tu be 'and extended through the said base and container openings into contact withliquidin s'aid container, and a heater element disposedin said heater tube with clearance between them and a damperelement applied tothe upper end of theheater tube and adjustable to controlthe flow of outside air upwardly therethrough as a means of regulating the heatingby its heater tube. q

2, A vaporizer of the characterdescribed comprising a liquid container havingatop openin surrounded by an upstanding neck, a heater base member threaded onto the container neckover said opening thereo1 and Iormed with an opening therethrough in registration with the container opening, a heater tube disposed vertically on the said base member with its lower end portion contained within the opening of the said base member, and providing an annular passage between them, an open air tube fixed in said base as a support for said heater tube and opening thereinto at its lower end, a wick applied about the heater tube and extended through said annular passage as a closure therefor and into contact with liquid in the container, a heater element located in the heater tube with clearance between them for an upflow of air through the heater tube, and a damper element adjustably mounted on the heater tube to be moved against and away from its open upper end to control flow of air therethrough as a means of heat control for the tube and a housing applied to the base member about the said heater tube and wick, and

formed at its upper end with an opening for out- The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,712,204 Gibney May 7, 1929 2,472,992 Szekely June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 496,788 Great Britain Dec. 6, 1938 

